MURPHY’S LAW: Gabby Gold, Chow Rules, Table Tennis

Posted on: 12:41 am, August 3, 2012, by Keith Murphy

• Gabby Douglas. Wow. She goes from relative unknown to global star in one week.
• What was that about Gabby’s nerves? She was nails. Gabby didn’t just win the all-around, she dominated. It was no-doubt gold.
• Gabby contemplated quitting six months ago. She was homesick, frustrated, and insecure. She stayed in West Des Moines. Liang Chow steadied Gabby, and the rest is now history. Real history. She’s the first woman of color to win the all-around gold. That hasn’t gotten much attention, which is in some ways a sign of progress, but it is significant. Now any girl can look in the mirror and see herself as the champ.
• I’ll bet a few local companies wish they had signed Gabby to endorsements about a week ago. Her price just went up about 1000%.
• Chow’s Gymnastics is going to need more land. Girls are going to continue moving to West Des Moines from all over the country, if not the world. And I wonder how long before someone tries to get Chow himself to move.
• I’m happy for Chow. He’s one of the good guys in a sport that too often attracts over-the-top coaches who forget to include fun or warmth. Easy to see Chow provides both.
• So Michael Phelps has gone from washed-up to greatest Olympian of all-time in five days? Never thought he was done. Not for a minute.
• I’m watching table tennis as I type–what we called ping-pong back in the day—it’s awesome. We need more of this. I know the USA hasn’t had a champ since Forrest Gump, but this is fun.
• USA just moved ahead of China in the medal count. And the Chinese haven’t been the factor in gymnastics they were in Beijing. Maybe it has something to do with not allowing underage 12 year olds who weigh 60 pounds.
• I’m a national anthem crier. I can’t help it.
• Love hearing from Des Moines East activities director Ric Powell that donations keep coming following the East football facilities fire. Valley, Ames, Johnston, Iowa State, to name a few, have sent equipment to help East as practice begins.
• We didn’t learn much at Iowa State football media day, never do, but it was just good to see the guys in uniform, on the field. It means we’re getting closer to the best time of the year.
• The Iowa Speedway could not have found a better salesman from day one than Rusty Wallace.